Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

Evaluating Gene Therapy Financing Programs

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

29 Mar 202229 Mar 2022

Gene therapies for rare health conditions have the potential to vastly improve or even save a health plan participant’s life, but they often come with a high price tag, sometimes extending into the millions of dollars. In one example, a treatment for […]

Behavioral Decision Making Communication Employee Benefits Mental Health U.S. Work Life Balance

Springing Forward at Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

10 Mar 202226 Apr 2022

Regardless of their views on the necessity of daylight saving time—which starts Sunday for many in the United States and Canada—employers should pay attention to how springing forward (and falling back) affects their workers, experts say. Setting the clock an hour ahead […]

Diversity and Inclusion Education Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Wellness Health Care Insurance U.S.

What Health Plan Sponsors Should Know About Social Determinants of Health

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

20 Jan 202220 Jan 2022

The events of the last two years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, have increased awareness of the impact certain social determinants can have on people’s health. In their article, “Benefit Plan Design: Focusing on Social Determinants of Health” in the […]

Communication Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance U.S.

Telehealth: Lessons From the Pandemic

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

13 Jan 202213 Jan 2022

With the Omicron variant causing a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, access to telehealth visits is likely a benefit that many plan members are continuing to value and use. Nearly two years into a sort of forced experiment with telehealth, […]

Behavioral Decision Making Communication Employee Benefits Mental Health U.S. Wellness

Addressing Traumatic Brain Injuries at Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

16 Dec 202116 Dec 2021

Awareness surrounding traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has grown over the last decade as we’ve heard stories of high-profile football players and military veterans whose lives were either cut short or forever changed by these conditions. But other […]

Apprenticeship Programs Communication Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits Voluntary Benefits

Building a Positive Jobsite Culture

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

30 Nov 202130 Nov 2021

Some people think that having to “pay your dues,” perhaps by enduring a certain amount of hazing, harassment or unprofessional behavior from co-workers is a necessary part of learning a new job. That’s an outdated attitude that won’t—and shouldn’t—fly with many workers, […]

Employee Benefits Paid Leave Parental Leave

Designing an Inclusive Paid Parental Leave Program

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

19 Oct 202119 Oct 2021

Employers are increasingly sensitive to the need to create a more inclusive workplace culture. Could paid parental leave programs be one way to help meet that goal? In her article “Rethinking Paid Parental Leave” in the October issue of Benefits Magazine, author […]

Canada Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Education (Canada) Financial Education (U.S.) Financial Wellness U.S.

Eight Financial Wellness Strategies for Reaching the Financially Vulnerable

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

20 Sep 202117 Feb 2023

Financial wellness programs have gained prominence as an employee benefit and can be effective in reducing financial stress among workers. But it’s not always that easy to get employees to use them. That’s particularly true among populations that have a greater incidence […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

Weighing the Value of ACA Grandfathered Status

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

02 Sep 202101 Sep 2021

When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect in 2010, health and welfare plans had the option to maintain grandfathered status, making plans exempt from some ACA requirements. To retain grandfathering, plans have had to limit certain benefit plan design and […]

Employee Benefits Health Care HIPAA Human Resources (HR) U.S.

Happy Anniversary, HIPAA

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

09 Aug 202105 Aug 2021

August 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The main goals of the law were improving the portability of health insurance coverage for people who change jobs, preventing health care fraud, assisting […]